Flights and Fieldwork for the Advancement of Science and Technology (FAST 2023)

3.1 Eligible recipients

• Canadian universities and post-secondary institutions.

3.2 Eligible projects

To be eligible, all research projects must include the following elements:

• Activities related to at one (1) of the research disciplines and one (1) of its associated research priorities identified for this FAST AO (see Section 3.3);
• A funding request that falls under one of the two identified funding categories below (see Section 6.1 for further details):
  • Category A: up to $500,000 for a project of up to three years;
  • Category B: up to $300,000 for a project of up to three years;
• The participation of:
  • At least five (5) Canadian students in a project funded under Funding Category A;
  • At least three (3) Canadian students in a project funded under Funding Category B;
• A training plan.

In addition, a research project proposed under Funding Category A must consist of an end-to-end space-like mission project that includes:

• The development or improvement of a technology; and,
• A science investigation or use of a technology during a flight or field deployment; and
• Data collection and analysis.

Please note:

• Projects whose primary objectives are to analyze data of an existing space mission (satellite currently in orbit) or to develop applications using data from an existing space mission are not eligible for this AO. Note that the project objectives must be identified in Section 7 of the application form.
• Projects that propose using the ISS as their research platform are not eligible for this AO unless they propose to proceed through a commercial route that will not require the use of Canada's ISS utilization rights (such as those using Nanoracks' external platforms or Space Tango platforms);
• A project may not be eligible for funding if the applicant was previously awarded funding by the CSA for a similar project that is underway. If the proposed project is directly or indirectly related to a project that was previously funded through a CSA AO or Request for Proposal (RFP), the applicant may still be eligible for funding if the proposed project activities are complementary in nature and do not overlap with those of the previously funded project that is ongoing (see Section 4 of the application form).

Note that only one eligible applicant (institution) may submit an application, who would be the only signatory of a grant agreement (a proposal submitted by two or more co-applicants will not be accepted). Different universities and post-secondary institutions may submit separate applications for different elements of the same project. In such cases, each application must include separate research or scientific activities requiring the participation of different Canadian students and PDFs, and the applicant must demonstrate that their project can achieve success regardless of the acceptance or refusal of the other post-secondary institution's application.

All development phases necessary for a project are eligible. Any logical breakdown or combination of these phases can constitute a funded project under this AO. However, breaking down a project into numerous phases submitted as distinct proposals to obtain more than the maximum grant or contribution under this AO is not allowed. Furthermore, the completion of a funded phase does not automatically guarantee future funding of the remaining phases.

3.3 Links to CSA priorities

To be eligible, projects supported for the purposes of this AO must focus on one (1) of the research disciplines and one (1) of its associated research priorities indicated in the following table:

Note that applicants proposing projects that respond to more than one of the above-mentioned research disciplines must indicate one primary research discipline in the application form (Section 4, questions 5 and 6). All other research disciplines will be considered as secondary. The evaluations of the proposals will be completed based on the applicant's selection of primary research discipline.

4.1 How to submit an application electronically

1. Download and complete the grant application form;
2. Combine the following documents into a single PDF-formatted file, in the same order as is presented below. A complete application must contain the following:
   • A completed application form signed (with handwritten or digital signature) by the duly authorized representative;
   • A proposal that complies with the guidelines outlined in Section 8 of the application form;
   • The curriculum vitae for each member of the team (PI, Co-investigators and PDFs who are members of the project team);
   • A detailed implementation schedule for the project;
   • A letter of support from each co-investigator;
   • Declaration on Confidentiality, Access to Information Act and Privacy Act form signed by the duly authorized representative (refer to the Applicant Declaration on Confidentiality, Access to Information Act and Privacy Act section included in the application form);
   • For organizations in Quebec, M-30 Supporting Documentation form completed and signed by the duly authorized representative (refer to the M-30 form included in the application form).

   The following documents may be required upon request:

   • A copy of the document(s) confirming the legal name of the applicant;
   • Letters from other funding contributors confirming their contributions (if applicable).

   The application must be prepared as a single PDF-formatted file containing all of the above requested documents with all security features disabled. The proposal and supporting documents must be included in the file as searchable PDF-formatted documents (PDF/A-1a or PDF/A-2a formats preferred). If there are any accessibility issues with the submitted PDF file, all consequences reside with the applicant.

   It is the applicant's responsibility to ensure that the application complies with all relevant federal, provincial/territorial and municipal laws and regulations.

   The applicant must keep one hard copy of all the original documents above. The CSA may require applicants who successfully passed the evaluation stage described in Section 5 of the AO to send a hard copy of their complete application with the original documents.

3. Submit the completed application electronically:
   • Submit an account creation request using the Electronic Proposal Portal. Please note that Google Chrome is the browser of choice for submissions. Supported browsers are Google Chrome and Internet Explorer with some restrictions.
   • In the "Proposal title" field of the Electronic Proposal Portal, please use the following formatting standard: FAST 2023_Funding Category(A or B)_Name Of Institution_Last name of PI (e.g. FAST 2023_A_McGill_Smith).
   • In the "Organization" section, under "Type", please select "Canadian university or post-secondary institution".
   • The "Applicant" section should contain the contact information for the PI.
   • Allow up to 72 hours for the CSA to send an email confirming the account creation as well as instructions (user guide) on how to access the platform. It is strongly recommended that the account creation request be submitted no later than December 1, 2023.
   • Using the temporary password assigned by the CSA, login to the secured portal to upload protected documents.
   • Please refer to the user guide for instructions on how to securely upload documents.

Please note:

• Applicants using the electronic portal are encouraged to create their account no later than December 1, 2023, as technical difficulties may arise. If technical issues cannot be resolved, applicants must submit their application by mail. Applicants are strongly encouraged to upload their complete application well before the submission deadline;
• Applications must be submitted (successfully uploaded) by the applicants no later than December 20, 2023 at 5:00 p.m. (ET).
• The onus is on the applicant to ensure that their application is complete and that all documents are uploaded on the Electronic Proposal Portal within the prescribed deadline;
• The CSA is not responsible for any delays under any circumstances, and will refuse applications that are received after the stipulated deadline;
• Hand-delivered applications will not be accepted;
• Applications sent by e-mail will not be accepted;
• Applicants are asked to not send their application both electronically and by mail or courier service. If multiple applications are submitted, only the latest valid version received will be considered;
• Incomplete applications will not be considered.

Questions and answers related to this AO will be posted on the CSA website in the FAQ Section of this AO (see Section 9). The CSA will not answer questions received after December 1, 2023.

4.2 How to submit an application by mail or using a recognized courier service

The applicant is encouraged to submit their application electronically following the instructions provided in Section 4.1 of the AO. However, if the applicant is unable to submit their application electronically, please communicate with stedia-dstemu@asc-csa.gc.ca no later than December 1, 2023 to obtain instructions on how to submit a paper application by mail or using a recognized courier service. 

Applications by mail or using a recognized courier service must be received at the CSA no later than December 20, 2023 at 5:00 p.m. (ET).

The onus is on the applicant to ensure that their application is complete and that all documents are received by the CSA within the prescribed deadline. The CSA is not responsible for any delays under any circumstances, and will refuse applications that are received after the stipulated deadline.

4.3 Service standards for this AO – Complete applications

Applicants will be notified in writing of decisions regarding their application. Selected applications will be proactively divulged on the Open Government website. The CSA has set the following service standards for application processing times, acknowledgements of receipt, funding decisions and payment procedures.

Acknowledgement of receipt: The CSA's goal is to acknowledge receipt of applications within two (2) weeks following the AO's closing date.

Decision: The CSA's goal is to respond to the application within fifteen (15) weeks following the AO's closing date and to send a grant agreement for signature within two (2) weeks after formal approval of the application.

Payment: The CSA's goal is to issue payment within four (4) weeks of the successful fulfillment of the requirements outlined in the grant agreement.

Compliance with these service standards is a shared responsibility. Applicants must submit all required documentation in a timely manner.

5.1 Eligibility criteria

Applications will first be submitted for an eligibility assessment to verify whether they comply with the following criteria:

• The applicant is an eligible recipient as defined in Section 3.1;
• The proposed project is an eligible project as defined in Sections 3.2, 3.3, and Appendix A;
• The application complies with the funding provisions of the program stated in Section 6.1.

5.2 Evaluation criteria

Once the eligibility assessment is completed, applications will be evaluated according to the following criteria:

• Benefits to Canada and outcomes;
• Feasibility and risks;
• Resources.

Table 2 below shows the criteria, sub-criteria and associated thresholds, while Table 3 shows a brief description of the graded criteria. A detailed breakdown of all of the evaluation criteria is described in Appendix C. To be considered eligible for funding, the total score obtained for these graded criteria must be 70/100 or greater.

Table 3: Definition and breakdown of selection criteria

1. Benefits to Canada and outcomes

• Max. score: 45
• Min. score: 33

1.1 Proposed research

Max. score: 20
This criterion is used to evaluate the originality of the research and its probable impact and potential to advance knowledge in the field of space science and/or technology, directly or indirectly. This criterion is also used to evaluate whether the research is aligned with the research priorities outlined in Section 3.3 of the AO.

1.2 Equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI)

Max. score: 5
This criterion evaluates how the project will facilitate the access and the participation of the members of designated and marginalized groups or individuals (e.g.: Indigenous people, women, members of visible minorities, persons with disabilities, 2SLGBTQ+, people from socio-economically disadvantaged communities) in the research team.

1.3 Training plan

Max. score: 20
This criterion is used to evaluate the quality, relevance and clarity of the training plan, as well as the impact of the knowledge and experience that the students will acquire.

2. Feasibility and risks

• Max. score: 25
• Min. score: 17

2.1 Research plan and schedule

Max. score: 15
This criterion is used to evaluate the clarity, completeness, and feasibility of the research plan, with the duties and responsibilities, contributions and level of involvement of each team member clearly identified. The criterion is also used to evaluate the likelihood that the work will be completed on schedule.

2.2 Project-related risks and mitigation strategies

Max. score: 10
This criterion is used to evaluate the applicant's analysis of the main risks associated with the project, as well as the mitigation strategies for each risk.

3. Resources

• Max. score: 30
• Min. score: 20

3.1 Project team

Max. score: 15
This criterion is used to evaluate the quality of the project team (PIs, co-investigators or PDFs, as applicable), its combination of expertise, its capacity to carry out the research project, the skills of team members, and the past achievements of team members.

3.2 Budget, funding, physical resources and infrastructure

Max. score: 15
This criterion is used to evaluate whether the planned budget is adequate to achieve the project's objectives. It also takes the project's various sources of funding into consideration. It is also used to evaluate the timely availability of physical resources (equipment, instruments and/or scientific data) and infrastructure (ground-based infrastructure, suborbital/orbital platform, analogue site).

5.3 Evaluation process

Only applications that have passed the eligibility assessment listed in Section 5.1 will be given further consideration.

Once the eligibility criteria are confirmed, evaluators will assess the screened applications according to the criteria listed in Section 5.2. The evaluators will be experts in the fields relevant to the applications. Evaluators may include representatives of the Government of Canada and of other countries, as well as representatives of other governmental and non-governmental agencies and organizations. If applicable, a multidisciplinary evaluation committee will be formed to evaluate interdisciplinary applications.

An application must receive an overall minimum score of 70% as well as achieve the minimum thresholds specified in Table 2 to be deemed eligible for funding.

Before a final decision is made, the CSA's program manager responsible for this AO may seek input and advice from other organizations, including municipal, provincial, territorial and federal governmental agencies and organizations.

A selection committee made up of CSA executive management members will carry out a strategic overall selection based on Government of Canada and CSA priorities, such as:

• Alignment with the identified research priorities;
• Balance between the seven research disciplines mentioned in the AO;
• Regional distribution;
• Diversity among universities and post-secondary institutions;
• Representation of PI who belong to one or both of the following underrepresented groups: women and Indigenous Peoples;
• Support for early career researchers acting as PI (an early career researcher is defined as an individual who has held an independent university position for a maximum of five years).

6.1 Available funding

Transfer payments will be made through grant agreements. The total funding available under this AO is currently expected to be approximately $5.6 million. The two funding categories are:

• Category A: Maximum grant of $500,000 for a maximum duration of three years for an end-to-end space-like mission project that includes the development or improvement of a technology, use of the technology during a flight, a field deployment or a research site deployment, and data collection and analysis; the maximum amount available per year is $200,000;
• Category B: Maximum grant of $300,000 for a maximum duration of three years, for a space-related research project; the maximum amount available per year is $150,000;

For both categories, CSA accepts proposals whose total budget is less than the maximum grant mentioned above.

The CSA intends to fund at least one project per research discipline defined in Section 3.3. The overall number of grants awarded and their value will depend on the availability of funds and the results of the evaluation process.

Prior to each instalment, the CSA will reassess the recipient's eligibility and review the recipient's report on performance indicators.

A recipient's grant agreement may be amended, for instance, to allow a recipient to fly or use its payload or technology a second time during an additional flight mission or fieldwork campaign. In order for this to take place, the recipient must provide an adequate justification demonstrating that the re-flight or re-use will result in an advancement of the science, technology or payload. In such a case, the grant agreement would be amended under the same terms and conditions as those set out in the original grant agreement. Under such an amendment, additional funding to support travel and living expenses and related overhead costs may be awarded to a recipient, subject to the availability of funds, the justification provided by the recipient, and at the entire discretion of the CSA.

Given the objectives of this AO and the limited available budget, an eligible recipient (institution) may submit several applications; however if two or more applications are submitted with the same designated PI, the CSA reserves the right to select only one of these projects. An eligible recipient may submit only one application for the same project. However, two or more distinct applicants (institutions) may submit separate applications for the same project if their applications concern the development of distinct technologies or scientific research. It is then expected that the students and PDFs involved in these different projects will not be the same.

Approved applications will be eligible for a total amount of government assistance (federal, provincial, territorial and municipal) of up to 100% of total project costs.

To determine the amount of funding that it will allocate, the CSA will take into account the availability of CSA funds, the total cost of the project, and other confirmed sources of funds provided by other stakeholders and the applicant. The CSA reserves the right to reject any application or reduce the amount of the grants at its entire discretion.

Applicants must identify all sources of funding in their applications and confirm this information in a funding agreement if the project is selected for funding. Upon completion of a project, the recipient must also disclose all sources of funding.

6.2 Eligible costs

Eligible costs are direct expenses that are associated with the delivery of the approved project and that are required to achieve the expected results of the project. Expenses will be covered, subject to the applicant signing a grant agreement with the CSA.

Eligible costs for a grant under this AO are the following:

• Access fees;
• Accommodation and meal allowances;
• Acquisition, development and printing of materials;
• Acquisition or rental of equipment (a maximum of 30% of the CSA grant could be used for laboratory instruments);
• Aircraft and watercraft charter services;
• Bursaries;
• Consultant services (not to exceed 30% of the CSA grant);
• Costs for carrying out environmental screening and/or impact studies;
• Costs related to obtaining security clearance;
• Data acquisition;
• Data management;
• Laboratory analysis services;
• License and permit fees;
• Launcher services;
• Marketing and printing services;
• Materials and supplies;
• Participation fees at conferences, committees and events;
• PST, HST and GST net of any rebate to which the recipient is entitled, and the reimbursement of any taxes for goods and services acquired in a foreign country net of any rebate or reimbursement received in the foreign country;
• Publication and communication services;
• Registration fees;
• Salaries and benefits paid to eligible students;
• Salaries and benefits paid to persons other than eligible students (not to exceed 30% of total CSA grant value);
• Training;
• Translation services;
• Travel expenses;
• Overhead (administrative) costs (not to exceed 10% of eligible costs).

Important note: The salaries of university faculty or college professors/teachers are not eligible expenses under this AO; however, the salaries of non-faculty co-investigators (e.g. technicians, program managers, etc.) are eligible expenses (falling under the "Salaries and benefits paid to persons other than eligible students" category).

6.3 Other funding sources

The CSA encourages applicants to apply for funding from other sources to support student training. For projects with an industrial partner, Mitacs may be an appropriate organization for obtaining funding to support student internships. Applicants are encouraged to consult the Mitacs website for further information regarding these programs and to apply for funding should they qualify.

7.1 Payments

The CSA and each successful applicant (the recipient) will sign a grant funding agreement. This is a condition for any payment made by the CSA with respect to the approved project.

Payments will be made in a lump sum or instalments as described in the signed agreement. Grant funding agreements will include a clause stipulating the recipient's obligation to confirm, once a year in the case of multi-year agreements, their eligibility for the G&C Program – Research Component, and inform the CSA in writing of any changes to the conditions used in determining their eligibility for this component.

7.2 Unconfirmed research platform(s)

Prior to issuing a grant agreement, the successful applicant must confirm that access to the research platform has been secured (if applicable, but mandatory for projects funded under Category A). The issuance of a grant agreement is conditional upon the applicant having secured this access (or an equivalent alternative) as outlined in their application. If this confirmation is not received within the timeframe set by the CSA, the CSA reserves the right to reject the application at its entire discretion.

7.3 Audit

The recipient of a funding agreement shall keep proper records of all documentation related to the funded project, for the duration of the project and for six (6) years after the completion date of the project, in the event of an audit. This documentation shall be available upon request.

7.4 Conflict of interest

In the funding agreement, the recipient will certify that any current or former public office holder or public servant it employs complies with the provisions of the relevant Conflict of Interest and Post-Employment Code for Public Office Holders and the Values and Ethics Code for the Public Sector, respectively.

7.5 Intellectual property

All intellectual property developed by the recipient in the course of the project shall vest in the recipient.

7.6 Organizations in Quebec

An organization in Quebec whose operations are partially or fully funded by the province of Quebec may be subject to the Act Respecting the Ministère du Conseil exécutif, R.S.Q., Chapter 30.

Under Sections 3.11 and 3.12 of this Act, certain entities/organizations, as defined in the meaning of the Act, such as municipal bodies, school bodies or public agencies, must obtain authorization from the Secrétariat du Québec aux relations canadiennes (SQRC), as stipulated in the Act, before signing any funding agreement with the Government of Canada, its departments or agencies, or a federal public agency.

Consequently, any entity that is subject to the Act is responsible for obtaining such authorization before signing any funding agreement with the Government of Canada.

Quebec applicants must complete, sign and include the M-30 Supporting Documentation form with their application.

7.7 Performance measurement

The CSA will require recipients to report on certain elements in their projects, such as the following:

• Creation of knowledge:
  • Advancement of knowledge (including technological breakthroughs, technologies led to a higher level);
  • Production of knowledge (including publications, research reports) (refer to Section 7.8 for expectations regarding open publications);
  • Presentations (including conferences, seminars, workshops);
  • Intellectual property (including patents) generated by the project.
• Increased capacity:
  • Project research team (including students and PDFs involved). Note that the grant recipient may be asked to provide the names of the research team members, including the students and PDFs.
• Collaboration:
  • Partnerships;
  • Contribution of partners;
  • Multidisciplinarity.

The CSA will also require recipients to be informed in advance of important press releases or news releases of interest to the media resulting from work related to this AO.

7.8 Open science

The CSA encourages the dissemination of the results of the projects it funds to the widest possible audience, and at the earliest possible opportunity. Greater access to science findings not only allows scientists to use a broader range of resources and knowledge, but also increase research collaboration and coordination, and support the creation of socio-economic benefits.

The CSA thus encourages recipients to practice open-access publishing and archiving to facilitate the widespread dissemination of the results of projects for which it provides funding. Recipients are therefore invited to publish their articles in a timely manner using one of the following methods:

1. A freely accessible online repository (institution or discipline-based) so that publications are freely accessible;
2. A journal offering free access to articles.

Publication costs are eligible expenses, as defined in Section 6.2. Note that these two methods are not mutually exclusive and that recipients are invited to use both.

Lastly, the CSA would like to receive complementary copies of publications generated as a result of the allocated funding (if not freely accessible) or the hyperlink (if freely accessible) and its digital object identifier (DOI). The hyperlink and the DOI will be incorporated into the directory of CSA publications generated as a result of allocated funding, and will be made available to the public.

Recipients are also encouraged to report on additional research outputs (such as databases and software) that create value that were generated as a result of their project.

1. Canadian students

For this AO, Canadian students include:

• College students;
• Undergraduate university students;
• Graduate students (master's and doctorate levels);
• PDFs.

For the purpose of this AO, the term "Canadian students" refers to all students (including international students) that are registered in a Canadian university or post-secondary institution.

2. Training plan

Applications must include a training plan consisting of the following:

• Detailed information on project activities in which the students will participate and information on the breakdown of tasks. These activities must suit the academic level of the students involved in the research project;
• Information on the method or methods that will be used to supervise the students and which will be adapted to the work to be carried out;
• Information on the knowledge and skills that the students will acquire in some or all of the following fields:
  • Project management (allocation of resources, planning, compliance with budgets);
  • Industrial design;
  • Mechanical, optical or electrical systems engineering;
  • Payload assembly, integration, testing and operation;
  • Software development;
  • Data collection and analysis;
  • Interpersonal communications and leadership skills;
  • Problem-solving;
  • Design and implementation of scientific research;
  • Other skills not listed above.

The training level and content should be tailored to the research discipline, whether science- or engineering-related, and include opportunities to interact and collaborate with other researchers within or outside the educational institution, as applicable.

As outlined in one of the application evaluation criteria, the CSA strongly encourages collaborative research activities involving academia, industry, and foreign researchers. In collaborative research activities involving industry, HQP training may be enhanced by exposing them to an industrial work environment. Similarly, industry personnel may benefit from being involved in academic research.

3. Additional information on end-to-end space-like mission projects (for Funding under Category A – see Section 6.1)

It is mandatory to submit an end-to-end space-like mission project proposal under Funding Category A. An end-to-end space-like mission project includes the following activities:

• Planning, management and operation of a project or space-like mission;
• Feasibility assessment;
• Technical requirements definition, design, assembly, integration and testing of innovative technologies or instruments that show promise for future space missions;
• Commissioning, calibration and validation of the technology;
• At least one airborne, space-based or ground-based campaign aimed at least one of the following:
  • Demonstrating the technical capabilities of the instruments;
  • Demonstrating the scientific or operational value of the new observations;
  • Enhancing the scientific understanding of the observed processes;
• Flight operations and technology recovery, or field deployment or research site management;
• Activities related to data collection and analysis.

4. Eligible suborbital/orbital platforms, research sites and ground-based infrastructure (for Funding under Category A - see Section 6.1)

The following suborbital/orbital platforms, research sites or ground-based infrastructure will be considered for the implementation of projects in Canada or abroad:

5. Examples of sites, infrastructure and instruments for research projects pertaining to life sciences and space health (for Funding under Category A - see Section 6.1)

Examples of sites, infrastructure and instruments for research projects pertaining to the use of space to address health problems on Earth:

• Suborbital platforms and instruments:
  • Studies using small animals^{Footnote 1} (such as nematodes), cells or microorganisms;
• Ground-based infrastructure and instruments simulating a microgravity environment:
  • Drop-towers, human or animal centrifuges;
  • Microgravity simulation using rotating wall bioreactors (RWBs) or clinostats:
    • Relevant microbial, cellular or whole-animal based research;
  • Animal models of unloading:
• Isolated, remote field stations or similar environments that are analogs of spaceflight, and that can be used to study Earth Health topics

For Co-Is of international proposals (proposals submitted to non-Canadian space agencies and organizations), the allowed platforms are the same as above, with the addition of the ISS, with the understanding that CSA resources on the ISS cannot be used.

6. CSA-facilitated access to research platforms

Through this AO, the CSA is soliciting applications that may require the use of suborbital or other research platforms. Applicants may request CSA-facilitated access to the following research platforms:

1. Access through the CSA to the Centre national d'études spatiales (CNES) stratospheric balloons;
2. Access through the CSA to the National Research Council Canada (NRC)'s Falcon 20 aircraft for reduced gravity flights;
3. Access to some CSA infrastructure and facilities, pending availability, at the CSA in St-Hubert for field investigations.

Additional information regarding these opportunities are described in Appendix B.

Please note:

• If a proponent requests, as part of the proposal, access to and/ or use of the resources above (including facilities, equipment, technical expertise), an additional agreement might have to be signed between the CSA and the recipient, provided that the proposal has been selected for funding.
• Applicants are encouraged to collaborate with other government departments in order to carry out their projects.

1. Access through the CSA to the CNES stratospheric balloons

In 2007 and again in 2010, scientists recommended that the Canadian Space Agency (CSA) establish an active and sustainable Canadian balloon program with regular yearly flight opportunities. This has been achieved through a ten-year agreement that was signed in 2012 with the Centre National d'Études Spatiales (CNES) to jointly conduct stratospheric balloon flights from Canada.

The CSA has invested in the construction of a launch base in Timmins, Ontario allowing CNES to launch its balloons from Canada. In exchange, CNES provides annual flight opportunities for Canada, from the domestic base of Timmins and abroad.

Building on their successful partnership, both organizations renewed the ten-year agreement in September 2022 during the International Astronautical Congress (IAC) in Paris. As part of this second agreement, the CSA has invested in new dedicated infrastructures for scientists and balloon operators.

Selected grant recipients will be allowed to launch their instruments on these balloons as part of the CSA's STRATOS program. The altitude of stratospheric balloons typically ranges between 18 and 42 km, depending on mission objectives, payload specifications and weather conditions. Possible balloon launch sites include the following: Timmins, Ontario (mid-latitude); Kiruna, Sweden (Arctic); and Alice Springs, Australia (South Hemisphere mid-latitude). CNES has started investigating the possibility of developing a new launch site in Tocantins, Brazil (equatorial latitude) beyond 2025. The balloon launch site, also named balloon campaign when including several flights, is decided by CNES based on their needs and is expected to be in Kiruna, Sweden in 2024 and Timmins, Ontario in 2025. Launch locations are still to be confirmed for subsequent years with the possibility of being in Brazil in 2026 if the site is ready.

CNES Zero-Pressure Balloon

During a launch campaign, multiple balloons are launched. All launches can accommodate either a single primary payload, multiple secondary payloads or both. Consequently, applicants will be considered for either a primary slot or a secondary slot, depending on their payload's mass and volume. Typically, a primary payload can weigh up to 800 kg, and a secondary payload can weigh up to 100 kg.

For primary payloads greater than 400 kg, grant recipients may be required to provide their own gondola to accommodate their payload. If that is the case, neither the CNES nor the CSA will be responsible for providing such a gondola, including the structure and pointing systems. However, the CSA and the CNES can provide the telemetry and telecommunications subsystem (the CNES PASTIS communication system downlink is limited to 1400 kbit/s) that will allow the payload communications system to send data to the ground and uplink commands. In some cases, the CSA can also provide a primary payload with a power subsystem (unregulated, 28 V nominal), including battery packs and a power distribution capacity.

In the case of secondary payloads, the recipient must provide a self-contained payload that will not interfere with the primary payload. Secondary payloads will be accepted depending on the volume, mass and power available on board the gondola. Although power and communications subsystems can be provided by the gondola, there may be special cases where payloads would need to supply their own power. These will be assessed on a case-by-case basis. The total communications downlink bandwidth allocation (1400 kbit/s) will be shared by all of the payloads onboard. All primary and secondary payloads flying with the CSA/CNES balloons can use the provided CSA uPRISM system for in-flight position and attitude knowledge. Post-flight position and attitude knowledge may also be shared with recipients upon their request.

Once a grant is obtained for a STRATOS balloon flight, the recipient must fill out a questionnaire providing additional information on its payload, the flight requirements and constraints, and payload hazards. The recipient will subsequently be responsible for ensuring that its payload and its gondola (if applicable) will be ready on time for the given flight window. Payload safety and interface requirements, which are outlined in the CNES User Manual, will be provided to the recipient. Payloads must meet all requirements in order to fly, and any deviations or non-compliance must be reviewed and approved by the CSA and/or CNES in advance of the flight. The recipient will follow the CSA's payload certification process, which includes submitting an Experiment Safety Data Package along with a Requirements Compliance Matrix, Hazard Sheets and a Safe Recovery Procedure, in order to get flight certification and approval for the flight. The CSA will carry out an internal technology assessment several months before a balloon campaign to confirm whether or not a proposed payload is ready for the flight.

The CSA will do its utmost to fly all FAST grant recipient payloads that meet the payload requirements, and that are compatible with STRATOS balloon campaign plans and schedule.

Applicants interested in utilizing a STRATOS balloon flight must clearly state so in their application and provide information on their payload as well as their flight preferences (such as period of the year for a flight, launch site, required flight profile and the expected support required by the CNES and the CSA). However, the CSA cannot guarantee a flight at the location, period of the year or time of day stated in a recipient's application.

Expenses associated with a STRATOS balloon launch, flight operations and payload recovery will be supported by the CSA An additional agreement might have to be signed between the CSA and the recipient, provided that the proposal has been selected for funding.

For general information on the CSA's balloon program, please refer to the Stratospheric balloons Web page.

To obtain a copy of the Stratospheric Balloon User Manual, please send a request to: stedia-dstemu@asc-csa.gc.ca. This document is subject to change at any time. Notice of such changes will be sent only to organizations that would have officially requested a copy of the document.

2. Access, through the CSA, to NRC Falcon 20 aircraft for reduced gravity flights

As a result of collaboration with the NRC, the CSA has access to the NRC's Falcon 20 aircraft in Ottawa. Consequently, selected grant recipients will also be given access to a reduced gravity environment for experimentation. The Falcon 20 will be able to produce multiple short periods of near zero-g acceleration force. Lunar-g and Martian g can also be simulated using this aircraft.

Depending on the physical properties of the experiment, the Falcon 20 can accommodate multiple payloads and experimenters on board. The Falcon 20 aircraft is also equipped to provide electrical power and a data acquisition system for the payloads. In addition, work space is available on the ground for build-up and checkout of test equipment prior to installation in the aircraft.

It is the grant recipient's responsibility to comply with all safety procedures, and to ensure that the payload will be ready on time and meets safety and interface requirements, which are outlined in the Falcon 20 user manual available upon request. The CSA and the NRC will do their utmost to accommodate all of the experiments to be selected following the NRC's multi stage approval and review procedure.

Expenses associated with the flight and the engineering support required from the CSA and the NRC for payload integration and certification will be supported by the NRC and/or the CSA. To better manage the cost of this support, CSA may limit to one flight campaign opportunity for each approved FAST project. An additional agreement might have to be signed between the CSA and the recipient, provided that the proposal has been selected for funding.

Applicants interested in utilizing the NRC Falcon 20 aircraft must clearly state so in their application.

To obtain a copy of the Falcon 20 User Manual, please send a request to stedia-dstemu@asc-csa.gc.ca.

3. Access to CSA infrastructure and facilities in Saint-Hubert, Quebec for field investigations

In order to facilitate the ground testing and demonstration of planetary exploration technologies, and to support field investigations to prepare Canada for future planetary exploration missions, the CSA has developed infrastructure and facilities for testing, integrating and operating planetary exploration systems and equipment, such as rovers and scientific instruments, in a "mission-like" planetary environment. The facilities include integration labs, test facilities, a planetary analogue site (located at the CSA), a control center and the communications infrastructure necessary to connect various on-site facilities.

The CSA is making available to grant recipients, subject to availability, its outdoor facilities and infrastructure to support the testing, integration and operation of planetary exploration systems and equipment (e.g. rovers, instruments, payloads).

Applicants interested in using CSA facilities must clearly state so in their application and provide information on their rover, instrument or payload as well as their schedule. However, the CSA cannot guarantee that a specific facility will be available at the location, period of the year or time of day stated in a recipient's application. The application must also mention the risks and mitigation measures if the requested CSA facilities and resources cannot be made available.

3.2 CSA facilities overview descriptions

The following Sections (3.2.1, 3.2.2 and 3.2.3) provide a summary description of the CSA's facilities.

In order to provide as much information as possible for the AO release date, the following CSA documents are also being made available on a per-request basis and in an "as-is" state. In some cases, the information contained does not reflect with 100% accuracy the current configuration of the facilities, as some upgrades may have occurred since the documents were prepared. However, the information supplied should be sufficient to provide the applicant with an understanding of the available functionality, capability and general interfaces. Available documentation is listed below:

• CSA Facility Overview Sheets:
  • Analogue Terrain (AT);
  • Portable Command and Control Shelter (PCCS);
  • Exploration Storage Facility (ESF);
• CSA AT User Guide/Manual; and
• CSA Facility H&S Plans:
  • AT;
  • PCCS;
  • ESF;

To obtain copies of these documents, please send a request to stedia-dstemu@asc-csa.gc.ca.

3.2.1 Analogue terrain (AT)

The CSA-located AT is a 60- x 120-metre outdoor facility offering various surface features and topographies to simulate the planetary surface, such as rock bed, crater, summit, and flag stone patch. This facility is also equipped with situation awareness cameras and WIFI network for the needs of rover and instrument or payload testing and deployment.

3.2.2 Portable Command and Control Shelter (PCCS)

This infrastructure provides a controlled and secure environment for conducting remote analogue site deployments, i.e., a portable "ExDOC", and can be quickly deployed and set up.

It measures approximately 10 m long (including hitch) by 3 m wide by 3 m high.

It is equipped with multiple workstations and satellite and wireless communications equipment.

3.2.3 Exploration Storage Facility (ESF)

Co-located with the AT, the ESF provides a sheltered and secure environment in which to store a variety of rovers and science and technology instruments.

The ESF's dimensions are 10.4 m by 7 m with 3.2-m ceiling height, providing over 70 m2 of storage area. It can provide storage for up to 20 rovers.

1. Benefits to Canada and outcomes

• Maximum: 45
• Minimum: 33

2. Feasibility and risks

• Maximum: 25
• Minimum: 17

3. Resources

• Maximum: 30
• Minimum: 20

Evaluation score

• Maximum total: 100
• Minimum total: 70